Coil storage and handling device



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 28, 1966 5 I Il o 48 INVENTCR LLOYD E. EMBURY BY 1 @JW ATTORNEYS Aug. 8, 1967 E. EMBURY COIL STORAGE AND HANDLING DEVICE Filed April 28, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LL 0Y0 E. EMBURY BY flz YW MM ATTORNEYS Aug; 8, 1967 EMBURY 3,334,833

COIL STORAGE AND HANDLING DEVICE Filed April 28, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

LLOYD E. EMGURY ATTORNE Y5 Aug. 8, 1967 L. E. EMBURY 3,334,833

COIL STORAGE AND HANDLING DEVICE Filed April 28, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR LLOYD E. EMBURY ATTORNE Y5 United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coil storage and handling device for sheet material including a coil support and grippers for holding the leading edge of the coiled material in a projecting attitude where it can readily be received by a straightening and cutter mechanism. The operation of the grippers and the straightening and cutter mechanism is synchronized to facilitate uncoiling and cutting of only a desired length of material without undesirable unwinding of the coil from its support. The coil supports are carried on an endless conveyor driven so as to position a selected coil at the straightening and cutter mechanism operating station at one end of the device.

The present invention relates to a coil storage and handling device for storing a plurality of coils or rolls of sheet material, particularly sheet metal, in such manner that a particular coil may be automatically moved from a stored position to an operating station by a continuous conveyor arrangement and at which operating station the leading edge of sheet material may be gripped and a length of sheet material may be uncoiled from the coil for straightening and cutting, and after such operations the sheet material may be rewound onto the coil.

Heretofore, equipment for handling coiled sheet material to be cut to length has required manual effort to position the leading edge of the material on the coil with respect to the pinch rollers, straightening rollers and the cutter. Each time a length of material of different gauge or dilferent width were required, it was necessary to replace the coil in operating position with a diiferent coil. Undesirable handling was required to move a new coil into operating position and to position the leading edge of such new coil in the pinch rollers and straightening rollers associated therewith.

An object of this invention is to provide a coil storage and handling machine with means for supporting a coil of sheet material at an operating station, gripping means on the supporting means for holding the leading edge of the sheet material at a predetermined attitude, means for unwinding sheet material from the coil upon release of the gripping means, and means for rewinding sheet material onto the coil after cutting a length from the end of the sheet material and upon release of the sheet material by the unwinding means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coil storage and handling device including endless conveyor means supporting a plurality of coils, drive means for selectively positioning a coil at an operating station, each coil having the leading edge thereof supported by gripping means for supporting the leading edge at a predetermined attitude, and means for uncoiling sheet material for straightening and cutting operations and rewinding 'sheet material onto the coil after straightening and cutting operations have been performed.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a coil storage and handling device including an endless conveyor for supporting a plurality of coils of sheet material with a weighing subassembly upon which a coil may ICC be weighed at any time without removal from the endless conveyor.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a coil storage and handling device including an endless conveyor for supporting a plurality of coils of sheet material with indicating means adjacent the operating station whereby the location of each coil will be known and the passage of a selected coil within the endless conveyor from stored position to the operating station may be readily watched. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent hereafter.

The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cut-to-length line for sheet material which includes the coil storage and handling device of the present invention, conventional straightening rollers, and conventional cutting means for cutting a length of straightened material from the leading end of the sheet material;

FIG. 2 is a side View of the coil storage and handling device of the present invention, illustrating the drive means for the endless conveyor;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic side view of the means for holding and releasing the leading edge of each coil of sheet material at the operating station;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic perspective showing of the drive arrangement for rewinding the leading edge of the sheet material after straightening and cutting operations have been performed thereon;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the operating station of the coil storage and handling device of this invention, illustrating the linkage for actuating the pinch rollers toward and away from the leading edge of the sheet material, and the means for holding and releasing the leading edge of each coil at the operating station;

FIG. 6 is a detail side view of the coil storage and handling device at the operating station;

FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of the means for gripping and releasing the leading edge of sheet material;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the coil storage and handling device, illustrating the means for rewinding the coil after straightening and cutting operations have been performed on the end thereof;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective representation of the essentials of the coil weighing arrangement;

FIG. 10 is a detail of the indicating means on the control panel by which the position of the coils in the endless conveyor are made known to the operator;

FIG. 11 is a detail perspective view of an adjustable hub mechanism for supporting a coil of sheet metal material;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary front view of the coil storage and handling device illustrating a coil supporting structure and the means for adjusting one end plate with respect to the other to accommodate coils of different widths;

FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating the link means for moving the pinch rollers between a first gripping position and a second released position; and

FIG. 14 is a detail cross-sectional view (from the back of FIG. 13) of the means for actuating the pinch rollers toward and away from one another.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated schematically a cut-to-length line incorporating the coil storage and handling device of the present invention. The coil storage and handling device 10 includes an endless conveyor 12 supported in the frame of the coil storage and handling device and mounting a plurality of reels 13 carrying coils of sheet material, as for example, sheet aluminum. Associated with the coil storage and handling device 10 are frame means 14 carrying pinch rollers 15 for gripping the leading edge of each coil and unwinding material from a selected coil at the operating station at the end of the coil storage and handling device 10 adjacent to the pinch roller frame means 14. The leading edge of sheet material passes through straightening rollers 16 and then a predetermined length of the end may be cut by the cutter means 18 which are ofconventional construction.

In FIG. 2, there is better shown the endless conveyor of the coil storage and handling means 10. The coil storage and handling device 10 includes a framework 20 comprised of channel members or the like structural members. The endless conveyor 12 comprises a plurality of links 22 secured to one another by means of trunnions 26. The links form an endless chain at each side of the conveyor. Journaled on the linkage connections are rollers which carry the reels 13 for the coils of sheet material on the upper and lower tracks 28 and 30, respectively, of the framework 20.

The tracks 28 and 30 supporting the upper and lower flights of the endless conveyor are supported on the horizontally disposed frame members 32 and 34, respectively. The tracks may be formed integrally with the frame members or may be separately made and then suitably secured to the frame members. Referring to FIGS. 2, and 8, it is seen that the links 22 are secured to one another by means of the trunnions 26 and disposed between the ends of the links and secured by the trunnions to the links are rollers 27. The rollers are adapted to be guided in the upwardly-opening, channel-shaped recesses defined in the tracks 30. It will be understood that the track 28 is similarly constructed for retaining the upper tier of the endless conveyor.

At the front and at the rear, the links 22 at each side of the endless conveyor pass over two pairs of large rotating and generally circular end plates 36 and 38. The end plates 36 and 38 are provided with large peripheral notches or recesses 39 and 40 to accommodate the rollers or roller bearings 27 at the connecting points of the adjacent links 22. As seen in FIG. 2, each end plate may be provided with four notches. One end plate 36 is operatively connected to a pulley member 42 which is secured to a drive motor 44 by means of a belt or link connection 46. Action of the motor 44 in one direction will cause the pulley 42 to rotate clockwise and thereby move the lower tier of reels forwardly, whereas reverse rotation of the motor 44 will cause the upper tier of reels to move forwardly. Thus, upon actuation of the motor 44, V

the endless system of reels 13 can be caused to travel in either direction so as to position a selected coil at the operating station 46, at the front end of the device 10.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, gripping means 48 are associated with each of the reels 13for holding the leading end of each coil at a predetermined attitude. When a selected reel 13 is rotated to the operating station 46, the leading edge of the coil carried on the reel is at an attitude where it can be received by the pinch rollers 15 which are carried on frame 14 that is adapted to be moved toward and away from the gripping and supporting means 48 of the coil positioned at the operating station 46. It will be understood that the pinch rollers may be opened and closed so as to facilitate gripping operation with the leading edge of the sheet material on the coil at the operating station.

Rails 50 extend from the rear of the device 10 and are adapted to carry thereon support means 52 carrying a replacement coil 49 of sheet material 13. To load a new coil onto the conveyor, reference is made to the right end of FIG. 2. From the schematic representation, it is sufficient to explain that 52 is a supporting frame projecting upwardly from trolley 52'. Reels are removed from the machine via the trolley by first removing the center shaft. A new coil is set in the reels externally. The coil now in the reels is deposited in the supporting frame and rolled with the trolley into position for reentering the center shaft.

of the endless conveyor. The distal end of one arm 56' has welded thereto the angulated arm 60, which carries at the free end thereof a gripper as will be more fully explained hereafter. Arms 62 and 64 are pivoted together about the pivot 66 and function as a bell crank to operate the gripper for securing an end of the leading edge of sheet material.

As best seen in FIGS.'5 and 7, the channel type gripping element 68 is secured adjacent the free end of the arm 60. Carried with the bell crank defined by the arms 62 and 64 is a bolt member 70 which has a head portion extending through an opening in element 68 so as to enter the channel 68' therein and to selectively engage and grip the leading edge of sheet material to retain same and for releasing the leading edge of sheet material during automatic operation of the device. The bolt member 70 as best shown in FIG. 7 is threaded through nut member 69 secured to the bell crank so as'to adjust the position of the head 72 thereof with respect to the material to be gripped to accommodate different thicknesses of material. A lock nut 71 is provided to retain the bolt member 70 in selected adjusted position.

It is noted that the arm 62 is biased toward arm 74 by means of a spring 76. Thus, when the arm 64 is moved counterclockwise (FIG. 3) about pivot 66 against the resistance of the spring 76, the arm 62 will move away from the arm 74 as the pin 64 of arm 64 moves against the beveled end of the arm 74. At the same time the dog or latch member 82 offset from but secured to the arm 74 will move out of the engaged notch 84 in the end plate 86 of the reel 13. When the latch element is released from the engaged notch 84, the reel 13 is free to rotate. However, when the latch member 82 engages a notch formed along the peripheral edge of end plate 86 of reel 13, the reel is obviously locked against rotation.

Pivoting of the bell crank 62, 64 about pivot 66 will cause release of the latch 82 from the notch 84 to permit rotation of the reel and at the same time, will move the head 72 of the bolt 70 away from the leading edge of sheet material gripped by means of it in the channel 68' to release the leading edge 54. Simultaneously with these actions, the pinch rollers 15 are moved toward the leading edge 54 so as to nip the leading edge between the rollers so that no unwanted spring unwinding of the coil will occur. As will be more fully explained hereafter, the pinch rollers 88 and 89 may be moved toward and away from one another so as to facilitate gripping of the leading edge and release thereof.

The rotation about the pivot 66 of the bell crank formed by the arms 62 and 64 is accomplished by virtue of the crank arm 90 pivoted to the frame member 91 as indicated at 92 engaging against the pin 64' which extends beyond the side of the arm 64 and beyond the arm 74. The crank arm 90 is actuated by the cam.94 carried on a shaft 96 rotatably journaled transversely of the framework 20.

Secured transversely between the arms 56 on each side of the conveyor is a bar 93. Carried on the bar intermediate the ends may be one or more support arms for giving support to a sheet intermediate the ends thereof. The opposite sheet edge holder is mounted so that it can be slid along bar 93 to accommodate coils of different widths. The opposite edge holder (not shown) thus assists in maintaining even unrolling and rewinding of a sheet of material. The gripping function is performed only by the gripping element 68 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, for example, on one side of device'10. The edge holder not shown is similar to channel 68' but minus gripping arrangements. It therefore simply acts as an opposite-sheet edge guide.

Referring to FIG. 4, it is seen that when the power actuating means 98, which may be a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, is actuated, the transverse shaft 96 will rotate, since it is connected to the piston arm 99 of the power cylinder 98 by means of the link 102, which is affixed at an end to the transverse shaft 96 and pivotally secured at its other end to the piston arm 99. Thus, upon rotation of the transverse shaft 96, the cam 94 carried therewith will actuate the crank arm 90. counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 96 will draw the pinch roller frame 14 toward the front end of the coil storage and handling device through the traverse links 104 and 106 which are operatively connected to the frame 14 for the pinch roller means 15. Simultaneously, the pinch rollers 88 and 89 on the pinch roller frame 14 are actuated by means of the arm 108 (as is more fully explained hereafter) to engage the leading edge 54 of the coil 53 of the operating station. At the same time, the connecting rod and link assembly 110, 112 and 114 causes rotation of the vertical shaft 116 so that the motor 118 which drives the small rubber tire 120 is moved into contact with the adjacent end plate 86 of the reel 13 at the operating station.

To unwind a length of material, the rollers 88 and 89 are actuated and since they are in engagement with the leading edge 54, a length of material will be unwound from the coil. The end of the coil may be passed through the leveling rollers so as to level the sheet and then a predetermined length may be cut at the cutting station (FIG. 1).

When it is desired to rewind the leading end of the coil after a length has been cut, motor 118 is caused to rotate tire 120 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 4). Simultaneously, pinch rolls 88 and 89 are driven in the direction which causes uncoiled sheet to travel leftwardly back onto the adjacent reel or core. This action is continued until only substantially the extreme end of the sheet remains nipped between the pinch rolls.

To ready the machine'for rotation of the conveyor 12 for the purpose of selecting another coil for cutting, power cylinder 98 (FIG. 4) initiates rotation of shaft 96 clockwise. This causes first the gripping of sheet 54 (FIG. 3) by elements 68. Simultaneously therewith, reel 13 is locked by dog 82. Following these actions, pinch rolls 88 and 89 are separated through the agency of rod 108, and at the same time are moved bodily to the right, clear away from the locked end of sheet 54, by shafts 104 and 106 connected to the said pinch rollers via the mounting frame 14 thereof. At the same time, tire 120 is moved out of contact with plate 86 through members 110, 112, 114 and 116 due to outward thrust on the connecting rod 99 of cylinder 98 and consequent rotation of link 102.

In concluding the immediately preceding descriptive sequence, however, it should be stated that tire 120 is only acting to transmit a rotary force in its direction of rotation against member 86 during rewinding of the coil and during the process of returning the unwound portion back from between the clamped pinch rolls. When the sheet is being fed into the pinch rolls towards the level of 16, by contrast, tire 120, though still in contact with member 86, is only utilizing such contact for retarding the tendency of the coil to unwind since at this time the motor is de-energized although exerting sufiicient drag to maintain a taut condition in the stretch of unsupported material between the pair of opposite elements 68 and the nip of the pinch rolls.

To provide paper interleaving between each predetermined length of sheet material cut from the end, the leading edge 130 of the paper may be coextensive with the 6 leading edge 54 of the sheet material. In such case, however, the roller 129 should be free from contact with the perimeter of the adjacent reel-plate. This can readily be achieved by means obviously within the skill of the trade, as also would be the provision of suitable unrolling-retarding means.

Referring to FIG. 5, it is seen that the link means 104 is operatively connected between the rotatable transverse shaft 96 on the framework 20 and the transverse shaft member on the frame means 14 which support the pinch rollers 88 and 89.

Considering now the reel brake means and the reel rewindin'g means, attention is directed to FIGS. 5 and 8, wherein there is illustrated a presently preferred form of the present invention. The power actuating means 98 may be, as illustrated, a cylinder operatively connected at one end to framework 20 and a piston rod 99 having a piston (not shown) movable within the cylinder. The cylinder is operatively connected through suitable conduits to a source of power fluid for actuating the piston within the cylinder. Movement of piston rod 99 toward and away from the cylinder will cause rotation of transverse shaft 96, which is journaled at its ends in bearings 143 carried on framework 20.

Lever 110 is rigidly connected at one end to shaft 96 and is movable with the shaft. At its free end, lever 110 is pivotally secured to connecting rod 112 which includes a main rod portion and an auxiliary rod portion 144 adjustably secured thereto, as for example, by a threaded connection. A lost motion connection is provided between the auxiliary rod portion of the connecting rod 112 and link 114. A coil spring 145 is disposed about the rod portion 144 between the headed end of the auxiliary rod portion and the link 114.

Link 114 is connected at one end to upright shaft or tube 116 which is rotatably supported on frame work 20. A channel member 146 is secured at one end adjacent the top of the shaft 116. Pivoted at 146 on channel member 146 is a channel bracket 148. The rubber tire 120 is rotatably journaled in a bracket 149 on the end of channel member 146. The motor 118 and reducer mechanism 150 operatively connected to the motor are secured to bracket 148. Friction roller 151 is driven by the reducer mechanism and is adapted to be moved into engagement with tire 120 for driving same. Spring 152 is connected between bracket 149 and the reducer mechanism 150 on bracket 149 to effect a spring loading between the roller 151 on the reducer mechanism output shaft and the large rubber tire 120'carried on the channel member 146.

In FIG. 9, there is illustrated a weighing arrangement for determining the weight of a selected coil as it passes along the lower track 30. A bar spans the machine framework 20 and is journaled at either end thereof on framework 20. At spaced points upon the bar 160 and adjacent the ends thereof are secured link members 162 and 164 which are linked at the distal ends thereof to hanger members 166. The hanger members 166 are pivoted at their lower ends to coplanar but separated portions of the lower tracks 30 upon which the rollers 27 are supported. To assist in understanding the operation of the scale arrangement, the spindle or shaft 167 of one of the reels 13 is shown.

Projecting in the opposite direction and secured to the bar 160 coaxial with the link 162 is a counterbalance arm 168 carrying thereon an adjustable weight 170. Also secured substantially in the vertical plane of the link 164 and depending downwardly therefrom is the link 172 to which is connected the dial indicating arm 174. The portions 30a of the tracks 30 are pivotally secured to the remaining portions of the tracks at one end as indicated at 30b and are normally retained in planar relationship with the remainder of the tracks by means of the hanger members 166. When, however, it is desired to weigh a coil, the conveyor is actuated and a selected reel and coil are positioned on the track portions 30a. The track portions 30a will rotate slightly above the pivot connection 3% so as to cause pivoting the bar member 160 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 9 so as to draw the dial indicating arm to the left and indicate the weight on the scale 173, which may be on the control panel for the coil storage and handling device. Suitable arrangements may be made for immobilizing the scale arrangement when not required and for preventing any unwanted yielding of the weighing track sections 30a. In addition, since the endless conveyor is relatively slow-moving, there can be build into the connections between the links 22 sufficient tolerance such that the accurate weighing of a coil of material need not be effected due to the fact that it is connected to the adjacent links 22. The present scale arrangement has been found to'weigh accurately within to 10 percent of the weight of a full coil. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the dynamometer 173 could, if desired, be preloaded so as to compensate for the weight of the reel.

In FIG. 10, there is illustrated the indicating means on the control panel for illustrating the position of each reel and coil within the coil storage and handling device 10. It will be understood that the device 10 may be modified so as to accommodate additional coils on the endless conveyor therewithin. Thus, the indicating means may also be adjusted lengthwise so as to indicate the same number of coils as is carried by the endless conveyor. The indicating means 175 comprises a belt of chain link member 176 trained over a pair of end pulleys 177 and 178 operatively connected to the conveyor drive means. Detachably secured to the belt or chain 176 are a plurality of disc members 180 which correspond in number to the number of coils carried by the endless conveyor. Marked upon each of the discs 180 may be suitable indicia indicating the type of material carried by the coil, as for example, sheet aluminum, and also the gauge of the material, as well as the weight of the coil. Thus, the operator can readily determine the location of the selected coil from which he Wants to cut a predetermined length and can facilitate the rotation of the endless conveyor to position a selected coil at the operating station. The panel may be marked as indicated at 182 and 184, for example, to indicate the positions of a coil at the operating station 182 and at the weighing station 184.

In FIG. 11, there is illustrated an adjustable hub on one of the end plates 86 of the reel 13. Secured to the end plate and extending at right angles thereto is an annular support member or cylindrical tube 190. Slidably carried on the annular support member 190 is a sleeve 191. Pivotally secured to the sleeve 191 are arms 192 which are connected at their ends to flanges 193 that are in turn secured to segmental arcuate coil-supporting members 194. Secured to each flange 193 is a guide element 195 which is adapted to slide in a guideway 196 affixed to end plate 86. The sleeve 191 is adapted to be adjusted with respect to the end plate 86 by means of the adjustment bolt 197.

It will be understood that by movement of the sleeve 191 toward the end plate 86, the support members 194 will be moved radially outwardly from the annular support member 190. Upon movement of the sleeve 191 away from the disc or end plate 86, the guide elements 195 will move in the guideways 196 to move the coil support members 194 closer to one another. Thus, by adjustment of the adjustment bolt 197, the support members 194 may readily be adjusted radially to accommodate coils having different internal diameters.

In FIG. 12, it is seen that the end plates 86 of a reel 13 are adjustable with respect to one another so as to accommodate coils of diflierent widths. The left-hand end plate 86, as seen in FIG. 12, may be fixed to shaft 167. The right-hand end plate is slidable axially on shaft 167 toward and away from the other end plate. Lock collar 156 may be connected to the shaft by means of a suitable fastener, for example a lock screw 157, to fix the position of the right-hand end plate with respect to the left-hand end plate.

In FIGS. 13 and 14, there is shown the means for actuating the pinch rollers to move the upper roller 88 toward and away from the lower roller 89 so as to permit the rollers to engage with and release the end of a coil of sheet material. The link 108 is operatively connected at one end to shaft 96 and at its other end to generally triangular plate 200, which is pivotally affixed to frame 14, as indicated at 202. Spindle 204, which is journaled in frame 14 is connected to plate 200 through link 206 and lever 208. Lever 208 is rigidly secured to shaft or spindle 204 and link 206 is pivotally secured at one end to lever 208 and at the other end to plate 200.

Secured to spindle 204 is a cam member 205. The cam member is adapted to bear against and actuate lever 210 which is pivoted in common with plate 200, at 202 (bearing in mind that FIGS. 13 and 14 are viewed from opposite sides). Lever 210 is in contact with the undersurface of plate 214 and is operatively connected to the end bearing 216 that journals roller 88. Rods 218, which connect plate 214 and end bearing 216, are guided for vertical movement in frame member 220 of frame 14. Spring 222 is disposed between plate 214 and adjusting nut 224 on the end of rod or stem 226. The rod or stem 226 is connected to frame member 220. The spring normally biases the roller 88toward roller 89 and the spring force can be adjusted by changing the position of nut 224 on stem 226 relative to plate 214.

Briefly, in operation, upward movement of link 108 will cause counterclockwise pivoting of plate 200 about pivot 202. Spindle 204 will rotate counterclockwise (FIG. 13). The cam member 205 will urge lever 210 upwardly, raising plate 214 and carrying roller 88 upwardly away from roller 89. Upon reverse movement of link 108, spindle 204 will be rotated in an opposite direction, and spring 222 will bias plate 204 downwardly to urge roller 88 toward roller 89 to engage sheet material therebetween. Roller 89 is operatively connected to a power source, for example an electric motor gear reduction drive. Thus, to unwind sheet material from a coil, the end of sheet material is engaged between the rollers and power is supplied to rotate the roller 89 and cause unwinding of a sheet engaged between the rollers 88 and 89.

The operation of the presently preferred form of the invention will now be summarized. The operator may actuate a suitable control to move the endless conveyor so'as to position a selected coil at operating station 46. The power cylinder 98 is actuated to rotate transverse shaft 96 to (1) actuate links 104, 106 to move the pinch roller frame 14 toward the leading edge supported at a predetermined attitude by the gripping and engaging means 48, (2) actuate link 108 to permit closure of the pinch roller means 15 at the rearmost position of frame 14, that is, permit spring 222 to bias roller 88 toward power drive roller 89, (3) actuate crank arm to release gripper means 48 at one side of the endless conveyor from engagement with the sheet material and release latch 82 from notch 84 in reel end plate 86 to permit subsequent rotation of reel. As the pinch roller frame 14 moves rearwardly, linkage 110, 112, 114 causes shaft or tube 116 to rotate to move tire 120 into operative engagement with the side of end plate 86.

To unwind sheet material, the drive motor to the power feed roller 89 on frame 14 is energized. Tire 120, the reduction gear drive and pulley 151 associated therewith function as a friction brake to retard unwinding of sheet material. After the selected length or lengths of material have been straightened and cut, the operator can stop the pinch rollers 15.

To rewind sheet material onto the coil at the operating station, the drive to the straightening rollers and to the pinch roller means 15 is reversed. The motor 118 is actuated to drive tire 120 to rotate reel 13 so as to rewind sheet material. The reel will be rotated so as to wind up faster than the pinch roller means are moving material rearwardly. Inherent in the operation of the rewinding arrangement of this invention is the ability of the drive to accommodate difi'erent quantities of material on the reel being rewound. The motor 118 and drive for the pinch roller means are then stopped, when only a short end of paper is still held between the pinch rollers. The leading edge of the coil on the reel at the operating station will be retained by the gripping and engaging means in readiness for subsequent operations.

The operator can then actuate the power cylinder 98 to back 01f the pinch roller frame and to first actuate the gripper to engage and lock an edge of the coil on the reel at the operating station and to lock the reel against rotation.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a coil storage and handling device, the combination of coil supporting means for supporing a coil of sheet material at an operating station, gripping means operatively connected to the supporting means for gripping the leading edge of sheet material and holding same at a predetermined attitude, means for engaging the leading edge of sheet material and unwinding sheet material from the coil, actuating means for moving the engaging means toward and away from the coil at the operating station, and means for opening and closing the engaging means to selectively engage the leading edge of sheet material, link means operatively engaging the gripping means for releasing said leading edge of sheet material when the engaging means have engaged same to permit unwinding of sheet material from the coil, and means for rewinding the coil after an operation on the end thereof so as to position the leading edge for a subsequent operation.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the engaging means comprises pinch means for engaging the end of the sheet material.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said pinch means comprises a pair of pinch rollers having the axes thereof disposed parallel to one another, said pinch rollers being supported on a frame for movement toward and away from one another so as to engage with and release the leading edge of the sheet material, and means for driving the pinch rollers to unwind material from the coil when the pinch rollers are in operative engagement with the leading edge of sheet material.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein the actuating means comprises a fluid-powered cylinder and ram.

5. A device as in claim 1 including endless conveyor means supporting a plurality of coil-bearing supporting means and drive means for moving the endless conveyor to position a selected supporting means and coil carried thereon at the operating station.

6. A device as in claim 5 including frame means, track means on the frame means for supporting the coil-bearing supporting means, the track means including a pivoted section that is adapted to be pivoted as a coil-bearing supporting means passes thereover, link means operatively connected between the pivoted section and weight-indicating means, whereby as a coil-bearing supporting means passes over the pivoted section of the track means, the section will be moved and the link means connected thereto will be moved so as to actuate the weight-indicating means to indicate the weight of the coil thereon.

7. A device as in claim 1 wherein the supporting means comprises a reel supporting the coil, said reel having a pair of end plates, one of said end plates being provided with notches on the periphery thereof, said link means including dog means for selectively engaging with a notch in said one end plate to prevent rotation of said reeland coil carried thereon, said link means being operative to release the dog means from the notch and at the same time to release the gripping means from the engagement with the leading edge of sheet material to permit unwinding of sheet material.

8. A device as in claim 1 wherein said rewinding means comprises a power driven roller member operatively engaged with the supporting means for selectively rewinding material onto the coil.

9. A device as in claim 8 wherein the roller is supported on a frame for movement between a position in engagement with the supporting means and a position away from the supporting means, said frame being moved responsive to movement of the link means to move the roller into engagement with the supporting means when the gripping means release said leading edge.

10. A device as in claim 1 including frame means, said actuating means including a rotatable shaft member disposed generally transversely of the operating station, power cylinder means including a rod operatively connected to said shaft member for rotating same, first connecting means operatively connecting said link means to said shaft member, said link means including lock means cooperating with said supporting means to prevent rotation of said supporting means and second connecting means operatively connecting said shaft member to said engaging means, operation of the cylinder means in one mode causing rotation of the shaft member in one direction (1) to move the engaging means toward the operating station to engage the leading edge of sheet material, (2) to move the link means to (a) release the gripping means from engagement with the leading edge of sheet material and (b) to release the lock means, whereby the V engaging means may be operated to unwind sheet material from the coil.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,608,193 11/1926 Stevens 24264 2,585,859 2/ 1952 Showalter 242-64 3,081,959 3/ 1963 Goodwin 242-64 FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner. STANLEY N. GILREATH, Examiner. N. L. MINTZ, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A COIL STORAGE AND HANDLING DEVICE, THE COMBINATION OF COIL SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A COIL OF SHEET MATERIAL AT AN OPERATING STATION, GRIPPING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE SUPPORTING MEANS FOR GRIPPING THE LEADING EDGE OF SHEET MATERIAL AND HOLDING SAME AT A PREDETERMINED ATTITUDE, MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE LEADING EDGE OF SHEET MATERIAL AND UNWINDING SHEET MATERIAL FROM THE COIL, ACTUATING MEANS FOR MOVING THE ENGAGING MEANS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE COIL AT THE OPERATING STATION, AND MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE ENGAGING MEANS TO SELECTIVELY ENGAGE THE LEADING EDGE OF SHEET MATERIAL, LINK MEANS OPERATIVELY INGAGING THE GRIPPING MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID LEADING EDGE OF SHEET MATERIAL WHEN THE ENGAGING MEANS HAVE ENGAGED SAME TO PERMIT UNWINDING OF SHEET MATERIAL FROM THE COIL, AND MEANS FOR REWINDING THE COIL AFTER AN OPERATION ON THE END THEREOF SO AS TO POSITION THE LEADING EDGE FOR A SUBSEQUENT OPERATION. 